Entertainment
oi-Prakash KL
The wait is finally over. Bigg Boss Kannada 13 has been launched on Sunday with 16 contestants entering the house.
Colours Kannada has been building considerable buzz around the new season, and this year comes with an interesting first. The four South Indian versions of Bigg Boss – Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam – have been launched on the same day.
Bigg Boss Kannada 13, hosted by Kiccha Sudeep, premieres today at 6 pm, launching the same day as other South Indian versions. Soundarya Shetty, Asiya Firdose, Tandav Ram, and Rachel David are among the reported contestants.
The launch this year has added to the excitement, with Malayalam host Mohanlal, Telugu host Nagarjuna and Tamil host Vijay Sethupathi making appearances to wish Sudeep ahead of the Kannada season’s launch.
Here is a look at the Bigg Boss Kannada 13 contestant list:
Bigg Boss Kannada 13 Confirmed Contestants
Jagadish MB
Better known to fans as Jaggu Mummy, Jagadish MB first caught everyone’s attention with his performance in Love Mocktail 3. His comic timing and distinct screen presence made him a memorable part of the film. Coming from a modest background, he’s been open about his early financial struggles and his drive to create a better life for himself. He’s now stepped into the Bigg Boss Kannada 13 house as the very first contestant, hoping to win people over with his natural charm and lively personality.
Avinash Shatamarshan
Avinash Shatamarshan wears many hats-actor, theatre artist, writer, and director. With a strong foundation in theatre and credits in films like Kannadakkagi Ondannu Otti and Dayavittu Gamanisi, he brings years of experience and a deep artistic sensibility to the Bigg Boss stage this season.
Gagan Chinappa
Gagan Chinappa has steadily made a name for himself in Kannada cinema through his on-screen work. He shot to widespread fame playing the role of Inspector Rajeev in the hit Kannada daily soap Mangala Gowri Maduve.
Prathama Prasad
Prathama Prasad, daughter of veteran actress Vinaya Prasad, is carving her own path in the industry. She’s already made her presence felt in Kannada films and television, and her entry into the Bigg Boss house this season is driven by a desire to step out of her mother’s shadow and establish her own identity.
Kavya Gowda
Kavya Gowda became a household name with her role as Shreshta in the popular serial Bhagyalakshmi. Her portrayal of the character won her a loyal fanbase, and her participation in Bigg Boss Kannada 13 is expected to bring plenty of drama and entertainment.
Om Prakash
Veteran filmmaker and actor Om Prakash Rao is no stranger to the Bigg Boss format-he previously appeared as a wildcard contestant in Season 4. Known for his no-nonsense attitude and outspoken nature, his return this season adds a layer of experience and unpredictability to the mix.
Sangeetha Bhat
Sangeetha Bhat comes to Bigg Boss with a solid body of work across television and cinema. She started her career with TV shows like Panjaradha Gili, Bhagyavantharu, and Chandrachakori, before transitioning to films such as Preethi Geethi Ityaadi, Mamu Tea Angadi, Eradane Sala, Dayavittu Gamanisi, Kismath, Anuktha, Alidu Ulidavaru, and Aadyaa.
Now, stepping into the reality show, audiences are curious to see the person behind the characters.
Vaishnavi Koundinya
Vaishnavi Koundinya is a familiar face to Kannada television viewers, having appeared in several popular serials. She’s also a digital content creator and has won attention for her work in shows like Mithuna Raashi and Prema Kavya. In September 2026, she became part of the Bigg Boss Kannada Season 13 lineup, adding another chapter to her growing career.
Likith Gondhi
Likith Gondi, a well-known social media personality, made his way into the Bigg Boss Kannada Season 13 house on September 6, 2026. But before that, he had to go through a rigorous preliminary round called Agnipariksha. Competing against several others, he managed to secure a spot among the top ten finalists who earned the chance to appear on the main show hosted by Kiccha Sudeep.
Dhanush Manjunath
Dhanush Manjunath is no ordinary contestant-he holds a Guinness World Record for cycling over 24,000 kilometers across India, the longest bicycle journey within a single country. A motivational achiever and cyclist, he entered the Bigg Boss house on September 6, 2026, bringing with him a story of discipline and endurance that sets him apart from the rest.
Kiran Shastri
Kiran Shastri, widely known as “UK Huli,” earned his place in the Bigg Boss Kannada Season 13 house through public voting during the Agnipariksha pre-selection show. He was the first contestant from that batch to be officially sent into the main house. And he didn’t waste any time making an impact-his entry sparked the season’s first major clash.
A comment he made led to a heated argument with Prathama Prasad, who accused him of body-shaming her. The tension got so intense that fellow contestant Avinash Shatamarshan had to step in and try to calm things down.
Soundarya Shetty
Soundarya Shetty, popularly known as Sandy, is among the names creating considerable interest ahead of the premiere. The Mangaluru-based model and content creator gained wider recognition after appearing on MTV Splitsvilla 16: Pyaar Ya Paisa, where she emerged as a finalist.
She has reportedly won the Miss World Teen Supermodel title in 2019 and had earlier auditioned for MTV Roadies. Her stint on Splitsvilla could give her an advantage inside the Bigg Boss house, particularly when it comes to handling conflicts, forming alliances and navigating the reality-show format.
Asiya Firdose
Kannada television actress Asiya Firdose is another familiar face reportedly entering the Bigg Boss house this season.
Asiya is best known for her work in popular television serials including Kanyakumari and Shravani Subramanya. She first attracted attention with her portrayal of Kannika in Kanyakumari and later took on the lead role of Shravani.
Tandav Ram
Actor Tandav Ram is also reportedly part of the Bigg Boss Kannada 13 line-up.
Tandav became a popular name among Kannada television audiences after playing Ramanna in the hit serial Jodi Hakki. His interest in acting began with theatre, and he trained at Rangayana in Mysuru before moving into television.
He later appeared in shows including Krishna Rukmini and Bala Aparoopa Nam Jodi. His film credits include Mareyelaare, Ondh Kathe Hella and Abbabba.
Apart from acting, Tandav has a keen interest in bodybuilding and has participated in bodybuilding competitions. He has also explored film production, giving him experience beyond the small screen.
Rachel David
Malayalam-Kannada actress Rachel David is another prominent name linked to the season.
Born and brought up in Bengaluru, Rachel made her acting debut in the Malayalam film Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu in 2019. She subsequently became familiar to Kannada audiences with Love Mocktail 2, in which she played Sihi.
The actress has since appeared in films such as Chef Chidambara, Unlock Raghava and Bhuvanam Gaganam, while continuing to work across the Malayalam and Kannada film industries.
Yashas Krishna
Yashas Krishna entered the Bigg Boss Kannada Season 13 house as the 15th contestant during the grand launch.
